alternative provider of medical services
alternative provider of medical services
A UK term of art referring to a contractual route through which primary care trusts (PCTs) can contract with a wide range of providers to deliver services tailored to local needs.This mechanism offers substantial opportunities for the restructuring of services to offer greater patient choice, improved access and greater responsiveness to the specific needs of the community. It will provide a valuable tool to address need in areas of historic under-provision, enable re-provision of services where practices opt out, and improve access in areas showing problems with GP recruitment and retention.